Farms are small businesses too — and they need less red tape to grow

By Bill Groeneheide, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

This week marks Small Business Week in Ontario. Spearheaded by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), it celebrates and draws attention to the vital role that small business plays in the Ontario economy.

According to the OCC, small businesses – those with fewer than 100 employees – account for 98% of Canadian enterprises and employ approximately 11 million people nation-wide. That’s a lot of jobs and significant chunk of the Canadian economy, making small business a sector worth paying attention to.

To succeed and grow, Ontario small businesses of all kinds need government investment in connectivity (strong trade relationships, resilient supply chains, ensuring flow of goods & services); building capacity to increasing innovation, competitiveness and growth; affordability to help address inflation, debt and rising costs for housing, inputs and labour; and sustainability (supporting continuity, longevity, investment in local economies).

Beyond that, changes to taxation, as well as infrastructure investment, red tape reduction to simplify supports and services and better access to workers are also important needs.

It’s no different for Ontario farmers and farm businesses.

My family and I farm near Thunder Bay, where we raise poultry and beef cattle and grow produce that we sell directly to consumers and at local markets. I’m also a provincial director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the largest organization in our province that represents farmers.

We work on behalf of farmers and rural communities – and some of our biggest priority asks are around taxation, red tape reduction, infrastructure investment, access to labour and affordability.

Most Ontarians don’t see farms as small businesses, but they are – even if they are different from retail, trades, suppliers or service providers. Farmers are entrepreneurs who manage budgets, make investments, hire staff, build relationships with customers and suppliers, and market their products.